After 2023 was filled with movie hits like Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and of course, the iconic Barbie and Oppenheimer crossover, 2024 has high standards to meet in the movie industry. Despite this, movie critics have high hopes: GQ Magazine declared, “Honestly, 2024 might be the year that does it. “It” being save cinema.” Now that the year is more than half-way through, there have already been hits like Challengers and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, accompanied by small-but-great films like I Saw the TV Glow and Fancy Dance. So what can we expect from the rest of 2024? 

Some of the most anticipated films of the year have still yet to be released. Audiences have been anxiously awaiting Joker: Folie à Deux since the trailer, featuring Lady Gaga starring as Harley Quinn in the extravagant sequel to the iconic Joker. After Folie à Deux’s release on October 4th, Gladiator 2 continues the story of the gripping Gladiator universe on November 22nd. We Live in Time, releasing on December 31st, brings a different tone to the action-centered up-and-coming blockbusters with a heartfelt rom-com, starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield fighting for their love in the face of time. It’s promised to be a tearjerker and even predicted to be among the league of La La Land.  

Just in time for the upcoming Halloween season, many horror movies are expected to hit theaters in the next several months. These films follow several celebrated previous releases this year like Longlegs and Cuckoo. Expected to keep up the momentum, Never Let Go, set to be released on September 20th,  joins a family defending themselves from an evil spirit haunting their isolated cabin. Succeeding it on September 27th is Apartment 7a, which follows a struggling dancer welcomed into the home of an old couple, eventually transforming into a insidious psychological thriller (with fun dance sequences). Terrifier 3 releases on October 11th, giving audiences a 3rd installation in the, as per its name, terrifying and ridiculously gory horror franchise - not recommended for the faint of stomach. 

More suitable for viewers of all ages, Moana 2 has audiences excited to continue the story of the iconic Disney film, where Moana adventures into the far seas in search of connection to her ancestors. It’s perfect for a family Thanksgiving watch as it releases on November 27th. Before audiences reunite with Moana, the screen adaptation of Wicked comes out on November 22nd, telling the origin story of the iconic witches in the universe of The Wizard of Oz. An original, The Wild Robot, releasing September 27th, follows a robot crashed on an island who learns not only how to survive, but how to love nature and the life within it. 

Although we have many promising films to look forward to, several theaters will be showing some classic movies in re-releases for the rest of the year. These include Pacific Rim (October 1st-3rd), Mean Girls (October 3rd-6th), The Nightmare Before Christmas (October 11th), Coco (October 11th-17th), Hocus Pocus (October 18th), Interstellar (December 6th), and more. 2024 is a noteworthy year for cinema, so keep an eye out for what may be your new favorite movie (or an old returning favorite).